Container



June 13, 1939. I UH. A. YEGGERSS I v 2,162,396

CONTAINER Filed July 5,1933

IN V EN TOR. Hans/I. Lfggerss.

Patented June 13, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Claims.

My invention relates to containers. It has to do, more particularly, with a retaining or clamping ring adapted to be applied to the end of a cylindrical container in order to retain a remov- 5 able head or closure in position at the end of the container.

This invention is particularly applicable to containers of the general type disclosed in my copending application Serial No. 158,768, filed August 12, 1937, although it is not necessarily limited thereto. The container disclosed in said copending application embodies a cylindrical body portion having a metal head for closing the end thereof, a retaining and clamping ring being provided for retaining the head in position. This invention specifically relates to the retaining and clamping ring. Although the retaining and clamping ring disclosed in said application has a number of desirable features,- the retaining ring constituting this invention has a number of additional advantages.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a retaining and clamping ring of the type indicated which is of such a nature that it may be readily applied to the container and will securely hold the head in position and may be readily removed in order to permit removal of the head. Another object of my invention is to provide a retaining and clamping ring of the type indicated which is of such a nature that it may be used over and over again since it is so constructed that it will not be injured during its application to the container, during its use on the container or during its removal from the container.

'35 Another object of my invention is to provide a retaining and clamping ring of the type indicated which is split to facilitate application to the container and removal therefrom,v novel securing and locking means being provided for securing and 40 locking the adjacent ends of the ring together.

Another object of my invention is to provide a split retaining and clamping ring of the type indicated wherein the securing and locking means 55 Figure 2 is a similar view showing the adjacent ends of the ring in overlapping cooperativerelationship and showing how a locking pin may be applied in order to retain the ends of the ring in overlapping relationship.

- Figure 3 is a horizontal section through the 5 overlapping ends of the ring showing the locking pin being positioned therein.

Figure 4 is a similar view illustrating the structure after the locking pin has been positioned therein. 10

Figure 5 is a front elevation of the structure 11- lustrated in Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a rear elevation of such structure.

Figure '7 is a vertical section taken through the upper end of a container illustrating how my retaini'ng ring will hold the head in position and also showing a transverse section through the overlapping portions of the ring taken substantially along line 'I--'i of Figure 5. V

Figure 8 is a view similar to Figure 1 but show- 20 ing a modification of my invention.

As previously indicated, my retaining and clamping ring is particularly applicable to a container and head structure of the type illustrated in my co-pending application Serial No. 158,768. 25 As illustrated in Figure 7, the container structure comprises a body portion l which is preferably of cylindrical form. This body portion is preferably made of fibre board, pulp board, paper or strawboard, although it may be made of other material. A head 2 is applied to the end of the container. This head may be of-the structure disclosed in said co-pending application and is made of metal although it may be made of other mate-' rials. A reinforcing metal band 3 embraces the upper end of the container and is provided with a portion 4 extending around over the upper edge of the body portion of the container which is bent inwardly at 5 so that it will extend into the. material of the side wall of the container. reinforcing metal band and the wall 01' the body iportion of the container are bent as indicated in Figure 7 to form a continuous external groove 6 and a continuous internal head-supporting rib I.

As indicated, the head 2 is so shaped that it has a portion resting on the internal rib I. It also has a flange 8 which extends over the upper edge of the body portion of the container and downwardly into overlapping relationship to the metal reinforcing band. 3. The structure so far described is substantially the same as the structure illustrated in my co-pending application. However, the retaining ring which I provide for retaining the head 2 in position onthe body portion l is of different and novel construction. as

The 40 The retaining ring In ,which I provide is a split retaining and clamping ring. It is adapted to be contracted around the upper end of the container and is provided with a portion adapted to cooperate with the head and a portion adapted to cooperate with the body portion of the container so that the head will be securely held in position. It is also provided with novel securing and locking means for holding it in contracted condition around the upper end of the container.

As illustrated in the drawing, the retaining ring has an inwardly projecting portion H on its lower edge. This continuous portion H is adapted to extend into the external continuous groove I formed by bending the body portion of the container and the metal band 3 as previously described. This portion II is so shaped that a continuous .extemal groove i2 is formed which may receive a wire l3 which may be tightly contracted around this portion in order to aid in retaining the portion II in the groove 6. The upper edge of the retaining ring has a portion l4 formed thereon which is substantially vertically disposed but which has an inwardly extending curved lip IS on its upper edge adapted to extend over and embrace the correspondingly curved portion at the upper end of the flange 8 of the head 2, as indicated best in Figure '7. Between these upper and lower portions l4 and II is an outwardly curved or convex rib portion Hi. This a portion l6 cooperates with a bead 8a formed on the lower edge of the flange 8 of head 2. It will be apparent that when the split retaining ring "is positioned on the container and is held in contracted condition, the head will be securely held in position on the container.

In order to secure and lock the retaining ring I. in position on the container I provide the structure illustrated best in Figures 1 to 6 of the drawing. In Figure 1 I show the adjacent ends of the split ring. These ends are adapted to be disposed in overlapping relationship. They are provided with interfltting portions adapted to hold the ring in contracted condition. Thus, the end of the ring which will be on the inside is provided with a slot N. This slot is formed in the portion l6 of the ring. The end of the ring which will be on the outside is provided with an inwardly projecting lug l8 which is also formed in the portion l6 of the ring. This lug ll is formed by forcing the metal inwardly in such a manner that an elongated lug of substantially semicircular cross-section is produced and-which projects beyond the inner surface of the portion IQ of the ring. This lug is of a length slightlyless than that of slot II. In forming th s ing, a groove lBa isproduced in the outer surface of the lug. The ends of this groove are closed by metal forced inwardly during the formation of the lug as at lib. However, these end walls lib arepierced as at I! for receiving a locking pin or wire which will be referred to hereinafter.

In Figure 2 I show how the ends of the retaining ring are adapted to be disposed in overlapping relationship when the ring is contracted. The lug I! on the outermost ring will project inwardly through the slot ll of the innermost end of the ring. The lugs is of almost the same length as the slot l1 and the ends of this lug will abut the ends of the slot and prevent relative longitudinal movement between the overlapping ends of the retaining ring. The ends of the slot II will contact with the inner flat surfaces of end walls "lb of lug l8. The flat walls will,

therefore, prevent the ends of the slot from cutting into the metal of the lug l8. Thus, this structure will serve to maintain the retaining ring incontracted condition. The portion I 6 of one end of the ring will closely embrace the corresponding portion of the other end of the ring as illustrated in Figure 2. Also, the opening I 9 at each end of thelug l8 will communicate with the openings at each end of the slot II.

In order to prevent lateral or outward movement of the outer end of the ring so as to cause the lug I8 to be withdrawn from the cooperating slot I1, I provide a locking pin or wire 2|. This locking pin or wire 2| is preferably initially of modified V-form. Its diverging ends are preferably spaced apart a distance substantially equal to the length of the lug l8. One end of the pin has a laterally extending portion 2 In. of substantial length. The other end also has a laterally extending portion 2 lb but which is comparatively short. In applying this pin to the overlapping ends of the ring, it is preferably positioned in the manner illustrated in Figure 3. That is, the end 2 la is slipped through the hole l9 at one end of groove |8a and the end 2|.b is slipped into hole l9 at the other end of the groove. If the outer portion of this pin is hit with a hammer or other tool in the manner illustrated in Figure 3, the pin will be straightened out and the end 2lb will be forced to the right (Figure 3) while the end 2|a will remain substantially in the position indicated in Figure 3. Having the bent ends 2|a and 2| 1) facilitates positioning of the pin and makes it necessary to force one end only (end 2|b) into position. The ends of the pin will extend through the openings l9 and 20 beneath the portion l6 of the inner'end of the ring as indicated at 22 in Figures 4, 5 and 6. The pin will rest in the groove Illa formed in the outer surface of the lug l8. Thus, it will be apparent that this pin will serve to prevent the lug I! from moving outwardly out of the slot II.

It will be noted from the drawing that adjacent the ends of the groove l8a, the portion l6 of the ring is forced outwardly slightly as at 23 and adjacent the ends of the slot the portion I6 is similarly bent outwardly as at 230.. This facilitates insertion of the pin 2|. Also, it produces additional interfitting portions which enhance the locking action since they are so shaped that any force tending to pull the ends of the ring apart will also tend to force the lug l8 into slot l'l, due to the cooperation of the portions 23 and 23a. It will be noted that the contactof the endspf the slot I! with walls |8b is in front of the holes I! (Figure 4).

In Figure 8, I show a slightly modified structure. The structure is exactly the same as that previously described with the exception that the lug llc, corresponding to lug I8, is formed by slitting the portion l5 of the ring at two points spaced from each other and then forcing the metal inwardly. However, I prefer the structure illustrated in Figures 1 to 6.

It will be apparent that the means for securing and locking the ends of the retaining ring together is of such a nature that no portions will project outwardly beyond the portion iii of the ring. Thus, there will be no projecting portionssubject to injury or which will cause injury to a person handling the container. The locking pin 2| may be readily positioned when the retaining ring is placed on the container. It may be readily removed merely by using a screwdriver or other tool which may be forced underneath the pin in This will quickly and easily withdraw the pin so that the retaining ring may be removed. The retaining ring is of such a structure that it may be used over-and over again since the parts thereof will not be injured during its application to or removal from the container.

Various other objects and advantages will be apparent from the preceding description. the drawing and the following claims. 7

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A split ring adapted to be applied to a container or similar article, said ring being adapted to have its ends in overlapping relationship, said ring having an outwardly curved continuous rib formed thereon, means for securing the ends of said ring together, said means comprising an inwardly projecting lug formed on the end of the ring disposed outermost, said lug being formed by forcing a portion of the metal of said rib inwardly to form a lug with a groove in the outer side thereof communicating at each end with the interior of said rib, a cooperating slot formed on the end of the ring disposed innermost and adapted to receive said lug, said slot being formed in said curved rib, means for maintaining the lug-in position in the"""slot, said means comprising a pin resting in the outer groove formed in the lug and extending in opposite directions under the rib on the innermost end of the ring at points adjacent the ends of said slot.

2. A split ring adapted to be applied to a container or similar article, said ring being adapted to have its ends in overlapping relationship, means for securing the ends of said ring together, said means comprising an inwardly projecting lug formed on the end of the ring disposed outermost, said lug being formed by forcing a portion of the metal of the ring inwardly to form a lug with a groove in the outer side thereof and with the bottom of the groove disposed inwardly of the inner surface of said ring, a cooperating slot formed on the end of the ring disposed innermost and adapted to receive said lug, means for maintaining the lug in position in the .slot, said means comprising a pin resting in the outer groove formed in the lug and extending in opposite directions under the innermost end of the ring at points adjacent the ends of the slot formed therein.

split, said ring being adapted to have its unis in overlapping relationship, means for securing the ends of said ring together to prevent relative longitudinal movement therebetween, said means comprising an inwardly projecting lug formed on the end of the ring disposed outermost and having a groove formed in-the outer surface thereof and a cooperating slot formed in the end of the ring disposed innermost, said groove and said slot extending longitudinally of said ring, means,

for maintaining the lug in the slot, said means comprising a member extending longitudinally of the ring through the lug and into overlapping relationship to the ring at points adjacent the end of said slot.

4. A split ring adapted to be applied to a container or similar' article, said ring being adapted to have its ends in overlapping relationship. means for securing the ends of said ring together, said means comprising an inwardly projecting lug formed on the end of the ring disposed outermost, said lug being formed by forcing a portion of the metal of the ring inwardly to form an elongated lug with a groove in theouter side thereof having a wall member at eachtend thereof, the bottom of the groove being disposed inwardly of the inner surface of said ring, a cooperating slot formed on the end or the ring disposed "innermost and adapted to" receive said lug, means for maintaining the lug in position in the slot, said means comprising a pin disposed in the outer groove formed in said lug and extending through openings formed in the wall members at the end of said groove in opposite directions under the innermost end of the ring at points adjacent the ends of the slot formed therein.

5. A split ring adapted to be applied to a container or similar article, said ring being adapted to have its ends in overlapping relationship, said ring having an outwardlycurved continuous rib formed thereon, means for securing the ends of said ring together, said means comprising an inwardly projecting lug formed on the end of the ring disposed outermost, said lug being formed by forcing a portion of the metal of said rib inwardly to form an elongated lug with a groove in the outer side thereof having a wall member at each end thereof, the bottom of the groove being disposed inwardly of the inner surface of said rib, a cooperating slot formed on the end of the ring disposed innermost and adapted to receive said lug, said slot being formed in said curved ribpmeans for maintaining the lug in position in the slot, said means comprising a pin disposed in the outer groove formed in said lug and extending through openings formed in the wall members at the end of said groov'e in opposite directions under the innermost end of the ring at points adjacent the ends of the slot formed therein.

HANS A. EGGERSS. 

